'Inappropriate to play': NZ-Bangladesh Test cancelled after shooting
The third Test between New Zealand and Bangladesh has been called off after a deadly shooting at a Christchurch mosque.
Multiple people have been killed after a gunman opened fire at two mosques in the New Zealand city on Friday.
Police have taken one person into custody after the gunman shot at worshippers as they gathered for Friday prayers.
The Bangladesh cricket team, in Christchurch to play New Zealand on Saturday, were in the vicinity, and had been left shaken but uninjured, their coach told media.
Bangladesh team escaped from a mosque near Hagley Park where there were active shooters. They ran back through Hagley Park back to the Oval. pic.twitter.com/VtkqSrljjV
— Mohammad Isam (@Isam84) March 15, 2019
New Zealand Cricket CEO David White has since confirmed that the match had been cancelled as a result.
“On behalf of NZC – heartfelt condolences to those affected,” he said.
“We’ve cancelled the game. I’ve spoken to my counterpart at Bangladesh cricket – we agree it’s inappropriate to play cricket at this time.”
White said New Zealand Cricket were shocked and appalled.
“Both teams are deeply affected,” he said.
“As a country we’ll have to look at [security of visiting teams].
“It seemed to be a safe haven. I’m sure all of New Zealand will take a look at their approach.”
ESPNcricinfo journalist Mohammad Isam reports Bangladesh’s Test cricketers were about to enter the mosque for a prayer session.
“Several minutes after they were barred from getting off the bus, the players escaped and ran through Hagley Park,” Isam wrote.
‘Just started running’
Marco Villavarayena, the team’s strength and conditioning coach, earlier told the NZ Herald: “The players are shaken up but fine.”
“I spoke to one of them shortly after (the incident).
“They didn’t see anything but heard gunshots. They were at the ground and just started running.
“The coaching staff were all at the hotel. The players just started running when they heard the shots.
“I don’t know how many (gunshots) there were. This happened at about 1.45pm.”
All members of the Bangladesh Cricket Team in Christchurch, New Zealand are safely back in the hotel following the incident of shooting in the city. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is in constant contact with the players and team management.#christchurchMosqueAttack
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) March 15, 2019
Bangladesh batsmen Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim, as well as the team’s performance analyst Shrinivas Chandrasekaram, had tweeted upon their arrival at the nearby Hagley Oval:
Entire team got saved from active shooters!!! Frightening experience and please keep us in your prayers #christchurchMosqueAttack
— Tamim Iqbal Khan (@TamimOfficial28) March 15, 2019
Alhamdulillah Allah save us today while shooting in Christchurch in the mosque…we r extremely lucky…never want to see this things happen again….pray for us
— Mushfiqur Rahim (@mushfiqur15) March 15, 2019
Just escaped active shooters!!! Heartbeats pumping badly and panic everywhere!! #ChristchurchMosque
— Shrinivas (@chinu1501) March 15, 2019
Isam was with the team as they escaped through Hagley Park towards the cricket ground.
Amid the chaos, the players reportedly told locals walking towards the mosque to turn around and avoid the scene.
Armed police were deployed around the Masjid Al Noor mosque where shooting broke out at 1.40pm (NZT) on Friday, with the city’s schools and hospital locked down.
Reports later emerged of shots at another mosque in Linwood Avenue.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described it as one of New Zealand’s darkest days.
“I would describe it as an unprecedented act of violence, an act that has absolutely no place in New Zealand, ” she said.